CVA’s Work During the 1930’s

The 1930’s was a time for great change in Chester; we have found this out through the research that we are continuing to do with some of our time with Chester Voluntary Action. We have discovered that in the 1920’s and 1930’s the first council houses were built in Chester at Lache and Handbridge, many of these houses were needed to replace slums, which were demolished in the 1930’s.

It was during the 1930’s that a centre for boot repairing by the unemployed was launched in Northgate Congregational Church. It was also during this period that the Juvenile Committee was concerned about the conditions on the Lache housing estate, and feared that it would be as bad on the Blacon estate when it was eventually developed.

The 1930’s was a time when summer camps where opened in the Chester and Cheshire area for the families of the unemployed, it was also the time that the Relief Committee was showing concern about the provision of artificial teeth for the poorest in the community. The CCoSW also organised a Jubilee Appeal in aid of British Legion Pensions Fund during this time.

A number of other things happening in the city of Chester during the 1930’s including Chester Zoo opening in 1931. The image shows George Mottershead, who founded Chester Zoo.

During the 1930’s Chester was regenerated into the city that we today including the building of St Werburgh Row in 1935 and the building of Newgate in 1938.

There were also a number of historical events during this time with the discovery of Pluto in 1930 leading to the now familiar solar system. Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in January 1933 and would lead the world into the Second World War after a series of events that would include the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia culminating in the invasion of Poland in September 1939 bringing about World War 2.

Another big event through this decade was the abdication of King Edward VIII so he could marry Wallis Simpson, this was the first voluntary abdication of a monarch since the Anglo-Saxon period. On the right you can see the former King and Wallis Simpson on their wedding day.